Media Release (update No. 5)

Detectives from the Hawaii Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section have charged 35-year-old Robert Grant of Pahoa with manslaughter in connection with an assault near the Pahoa Fire Station on November 1.

Grant is being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Puna patrol officers responded to a call about an unresponsive man in the parking lot next to the Pahoa Fire Station at about 1:22 p.m. on November 1. The victim, identified as 47-year-old Daniel Martina of Pahoa, was initially transported to Hilo Medical Center by Fire Department rescue personnel. He was later transferred to The Queens Medical Center on Oahu in critical condition. He died at the hospital on Friday (November 7).

Police reclassified the case from an assault to second-degree murder and renewed a request for the public’s help in locating Grant. Thanks to tips from the community, detectives arrested Grant without incident in the Nanawale Estates subdivision of Puna on Saturday (November 8).

Police also arrested and charged 47-year-old Rory Libarios of Nanawale for hindering prosecution. Libarios was hiding Grant from police at his home.

An autopsy conducted Monday (November 10) in Honolulu determined that Martina died from severe trauma to the back of the head, which included a severe skull fracture. The Honolulu medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Police conferred with prosecutors and then charged Grant with manslaughter at 4 p.m. Monday (November 10).